Coin mat with holder for receiving advertising display



May 23, 1961 R. L. MITCHELL 2,984,923

com MAT wrm HOLDER FOR RECEIVING ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Oct. 22, 1959 1905527 A. M/rcAZs-u BWg Qf Jtorrz 6 United States Patent COIN MAT WITH HOLDER FOR RECEIVING ADVERTISDIG DISPLAY Robert L. Mitchell, 2130 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles 65, Calif.

Filed Oct. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 848,023

Claims. (Cl. 40- 323) This invention relates to an advertising device. More particularly, this invention relates to a rubber coin mat having a display sign holder or pocket formed therein and into which an advertisement may be inserted through a slit in the bottom of the mat to present a finished framelike appearance to the user whose attention will normally be drawn to the advertisement when he looks at the mat to pick up coins therefrom.

Rubber coin mats are quite commonly used in tobacco stores and the like. Such mats are usually placed on a sales counter in a position such that coins given in change by the storekeeper may be placed on the mat within convenient reach of the customer. Such mats have the advantage of preventing coins from rolling or sliding over a smooth counter surface and of affording protection to a glass or finished surface which may form a counter top.

Additionally, such mats are a convenience to the customer since they afford an easy and simple method by which he may receive his change without danger of dropping or losing the coins. Normally, the customers attention is automatically directed to the coin mat when he reaches toward it to pick up his change. Instinctively,

the customer reaching for change will look at the mat to be sure that the change is correct and to guide his hand in reaching for it.

Hence, an advertising display or sign positioned on or immediately adjacent such a mat is assured of considerable customer notice. Furthermore, such a sign or display holder is preferably made integral with the mat so that it can be utilized not only to receive advertising display matter but also to form suction cup means which will securely position the coin mat and the advertising holder on the counter.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved advertising device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an advertising device formed integrally with a rubber coin mat and serving not only to support and position an advertising display adjacent to the mat but also to form suction cups for holding the coin mat and advertising display firmly in place on a counter.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a coin mat and advertising display holder wherein the holder is adapted to receive the advertising display matter and a sheet of transparent material to protect it through a slit in the bottom of the mat communicating with slots surrounding an inclined display supporting surface and adapted to receive said sheet.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coin mat advertising device in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.-

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the manner in which suction cups are formed under the display holder and also showing a portion of a slit through which an advertisement may be inserted into the holder.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, partially broken away, taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but taken on an enlarged scale and showing the deformation of the coin mat to facilitate insertion of a transparent sheet through a slit in the bottom thereof into the display holder.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown an advertising device 10 comprising a mat 11 preferably made of rubber or any similar rubber-like resilient deformable material and having a coin receiving area 12 in the forward portion thereof and an advertising display sign or placard holder 13 formed in the rearward portion thereof. The coin receiving area is defined generally within a recess 14 molded into the forward portion 12 of the mat and peripherally surrounded by a continuous edge or lip 15. The edge 15 preferably has a plurality of recesses 16 opening from the lower surface of the mat to form suction cups molded into the edge of the coin mat.

The actual surface of the area intended to receive coins is formed by the tops of a plurality of closely spaced resilient rubber fingers 17 protruding integrally upwardly from the bottom of the recess 14 and each terminating at the same height slightly above the top surface of the edge or lip member 15. The coin receiving area may of course have any desired shape but is preferably generally rectangular as shown in the drawing. The coins are adapted to be supported by the tops of the resilient fingers 17 in such a fashion that the customer can easily grasp the edge of the coin in order to lift it off the mat.

The advertising display sign or placard holder 13 formed above the rear portion of the mat 11 comprises an inclined display supporting surface 18 on which a printed sign or placard 19 is positioned. The surface 18 extends generally rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of the mat and is positioned so that its lower front edge is contiguous with the rear edge of the coin receiving area.

A continuous flange member 20 is formed integrally with the sides of the holder 13 so as to form with the supporting surface 18 a slot 21 which extends around the four edges of the generally rectangular supporting surface 18. The sign or placard 19 is intended to have a shape and dimension such that when placed on the surface 18 it will extend into the slot 21 on all four sides of the surface so that the flange member 20 will extend inwardly over the placard 19 and, co-acting with a sheet of transparent material such as a transparent plastic sheet 22, will serve to securely hold the sign 19 in position on the surface 18 and will afford a picture frame appearance around the edges of the sign. The sheet 22 of transparent material may be any clear transparent plastic, a colored transparent plastic, glass, or any other suitable transparent material. If desired, of course, the sheet 22 could itself have the advertising display or legend imprinted thereon. However, the arrangement shown is preferred inasmuch as it facilitates changing the particular advertising matter being displayed.

It will be noted particularly from Figures 2, 3 and 6 that a slit 23 extends transversely across the bottom edge of the supporting surface 18 and also extends from the top of this surface 18 through the mat 11 to the bottom surface thereof. As may be seen in Figure 2 wherein the mat is shown in its undeformed position, the slit 23 is generally wedge-shape and narrows down from the bottom of the mat '11 to the top thereof where it terminates at the bottom edge of the supporting surface 18. The top of the slit is thus normally closed.

As may be more clearly seen in Figure 5', the slit 23 extends transversely across the bottom edge of the supporting surface 18 for a distance greater'than the horizontal width; of the portion of the slot 21 formed by flange 20 at the bottom. edge of surface 18. The fact that slit'23 is wider across the bottom of the surface 18 than is the slot 21 facilitatestthe deformation of the coin mat in the manner shown in Figure 6 so that the slit 23 may be opened sufliciently to permit the insertion of the placard 19 and transparent sheet member 22 through it into the portions of the slot 21 surrounding the two sides and the top of the display surface 18 in the manner indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. When the sheet 22 has been fully inserted in three sides of the slot 21, the mat is permitted to resume the undeformed position shown in Figure 2 and that portion of the slit 21 which lies along the bottom edge of surface 18 is then seated around the bottom edge of placard 19 and sheet 22.

As may be more clearly seen in Figures 2, 3 and 6, a plurality of recesses or suction cups 25 are formed under the display supporting surface 18 by a plurality of orthogonally disposed depending partition members. A first group of such partition members 26 extends generally parallel to the sides of the sign holder 13 and tapers downwardly from the top of supporting surface 18 to a point near the bottom thereof. The taper of the partitions 26 is such that their bottom surface is maintained parallel to the bottom surface of the mat 11 so as to lie flat therewith on a counter top. A second group of partition members 27 extends orthogonally to the members 26 and is thus in generally parallel relation with the top and bottom edges of the surface 18 and with the slit 23. The members 27 depending from the surface 18 are also eachof such a height that their bottom surfaces are generally aligned with the bottom surface of the mat 11. The two set of intersecting orthogonally disposed partition members 26 and 27 each of which is of a height such that it extends downwardly to the plane of the bottom of the mat 11 thus form the plurality of recesses 25 which act as suction cups to securely hold the mat 11 with its coin receiving area andsign holder securely in position on a counter. The action of the suction cups 25 is aided by a similar suction cup action of the recesses 16 molded in the lip 15 surrounding the coin mat.

It will thus be apparent that in operation when the mat has been deformed from the normal or undeformed position shown in.Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 6, the placard or sign 19 may be inserted through the slit 23 and seated in the slot 21 surrounding three sides of the surface 18. The transparent sheet 22 is similarly inserted. When the mat is then permitted to return to its normal position the edge of the slit 23 is .sufliciently resilient so that the portion of the slot 21 lying above this edge and adjacent to the bottom edge of the surface 18 may be deflected sufficiently to snap-seat the corresponding edge of the sheet 22 and placard 19 in the slit 21 on this fourth side. The advertising matter is thus securely positioned and held in the holder 13 and the flange 20 extending around its four sides affords a framelike appearance for the display sign. When the coin mat and sign holder are then positioned on a smooth counter, the recesses 16 and 25 act as suction cups and cooperate to securely position both the coin mat and the sign holder in place on the counter. The advertising device thus provides a display arrangement which is securely positioned and which attracts a customers attention by affording him a convenient place from which to receive his change.

While a particular exemplary preferred embodiment of the inventionhasbeen described in detail above, it will be understood that modifications and variations therein may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present in- Yrntiq as defined by he oll wi g claims- I claim:

1. An advertising device comprising: a rubber mat; a recess in the forward portion of the upper surface of said mat; a plurality of closely spaced resilient fingers protruding upwardly from the bottom of said recess and terminating at the same height, the tops of said protruding fingers forming a coin-receiving area; a display sign holder formed above the rearward portion of said upper surface of said mat adjacent to said coin-receiving area; said sign holder comprising an inclined display supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said mat; a flange member above and extending around the periphery of said inclined. surface to form a continuous slot around the edges of said inclined surface; a slit extending through said mat near the bottom edge of said inclined surface and immediately in front of the slot along the said bottom edge of said surface; said slit being shaped and dimensioned to receive a sheet of material'to be seated in the slots surrounding said inclined surface to protect an advertising placard adapted to be positioned between said sheet and'said surface; said mat being deformably in the area of said slit so that said transparent sheet may be inserted through said slit from the bottom of said mat and positioned in said slots; and a plurality of suction cups formed under said inclined display surface to secure said advertising display holder and coin mat in position on a counter.

2. In a rubber coin mat advertising device of the type having a recess in the forward portion of the upper surface of said mat to form a coin-receiving area in the forward portion of the upper surface of said mat, the improvement comprising a sign holder formed above the rear portion of said upper surface of saidmat adjacent to said coin-receiving area, said sign holder'comprising: an inclined rectangular display supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said mat; a flange member above and extending around the periphery of said inclined surface to form a. continuous slot around the edges of said inclined surface; a slit extending through said mat near the bottom edge of said inclined surface and immediately in front of the slot portion along the bottom edge of said surface, the upper wall of said slit being inclined rearwardly and'upwardly. to intersect the bottom lower corner of the front slot portion; a sheet of transparent material adapted to beseated in the slot surrounding said inclined surface to protect an advertising placard positioned between said sheet and said surface; said rubber mat being of such a thickness asto be deformable in the area of said slit'so that said transparent sheet may be slidably inserted through said slit from the bottom of said mat rearwardly into said slot, with the front edge of said sheet thereafter being moved along the upper wall of said slit and snapped into said front slot portion.

3. An advertising display sign holder comprising: a rubber mat; an inclined display supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said mat; a flange member above and extending around the periphery of said inclined surface to form a continuous slot around the edges of said inclined surface; a slit extending through said mat near the forward bottom edge of said inclined surface and immediately in front of the slot along said bottom edge of said surface; said slit being shaped and dimensioned to receive a sheet'of material to be seated in the slots surrounding said inclined surface to protect an advertising placard positioned between said sheet and surface; saidmat being of such a thickness as to be deformable in the area of said slit so that said transparent sheet may be inserted through said slit from the bottom of said mat and positioned in said slots; and a plurality of suction cups formed under said inclined display surface to secure said advertising display holder in position on a counter.

4. An advertising device comprising: a, coin matand display sign holder formed ofresilient deformable material; slit means communicating with said sign, holder.

through the bottom of said mat to facilitate insertion of a display sign in said holder; and a plurality of recessed suction cups in the bottom of said mat under said sign holder.

5. A coin mat and advertising display sign holder comprising: a rubber mat having a coin-receiving area defined thereon; an inclined display-supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said coinreceiving area; a flange member above and extending around the periphery of said inclined surface to form a continuous slot around the edges of said inclined surface; a slit extending through said mat near the forward bottom edge of said inclined surface and immediately in front of the slot along said bottom edge of said surface; a sheet of transparent material adapted to be seated in the slot surrounding said inclined surface to protect an advertising placard positioned between said sheet and said surface; said slit extending laterally beyond said slot and said mat being of such a thickness as to be deformable in the area of said slit so that said transparent sheet may be inserted through said slit from the bottom of said mat and positioned in said slot.

6. A coin mat advertising device comprising: a rubber mat; a recess in the forward portion of the upper surface of said mat; a plurality of closely spaced resilient rubber fingers protruding upwardly from the bottom of said recess and each terminating in the same plane at a height slightly above the upper surface of said mat; the tops of said protruding fingers forming in said plane a coin-receiving area; a display sign holder formed above the rearward portion of said upper surface of said mat adjacent to said coin-receiving area; said sign holder comprising an inclined display-supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said mat adjacent to said coin-receiving area; a flange member positioned in spaced parallel relationship above said inclined surface, said flange member extending around the periphery of said inclined surface and in slightly overlapped relationship therewith to form a continuous slot around the edges of said inclined surface between said surface and said flange member; a slit extending around said mat near the bottom edge of said inclined surface and immediately in front of the portion of the slot along the said bottom edge of said surface; said slit extending laterally beyond said slot and being shaped and dimensioned to freely receive a sheet of transparent material to be seated in the slot surrounding said inclined surface to protect an advertising placard adapted to be positioned between said sheet and said surface; said mat being deformable in the area of said normally closed slit so that deformation of said mat will open said slit to permit said transparent sheet to be inserted through said slit from the bottom of said mat and to be positioned in said slot; and a plurality of suction cups formed in the bottom surface of said mat to secure said advertising device in position on a counter, at least one of said suction cups being positioned under said sign holder.

7. A display sign holder comprising: a mat of flexible material; an inclined display sign-supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said mat; a flange member positioned above said surface in spaced parallel relationship therewith, said flange member extending around the periphery of said inclined surface in slighfly overlapped relationship therewith to form a conmediately in front of the slot along said bottom edge of.

said surface; said slit being generally Wedge-shaped in cross-section and tapering in Width from an open portion in the bottom of said mat to said normally closed slit portion in the upper surface of said mat; said slit extending laterally beyond said slot at the bottom edges of said surface so as to be shaped and dimensioned to receive a sheet of transparent material to be seated in the slot sur rounding said inclined surface to protect an advertising placard positioned between said sheet and said surface; said mat being of such a thickness as to be deformable in the area of said normally closed slit so that deformation of said mat will open said slit to permit said transparent sheet to be inserted through said slit from the bottom of said mat to be positioned in said slot around three of the edges of said surface, said sheet being received in the slot along the fourth edge of said surface when said mat is returned to its undeformed state.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein a plurality of suction cups are formed by recesses in said mat under said inclined display-supporting surface to secure said advertising display sign holder in position on a counter.

9. In a rubber coin mat advertising device of the type having a recess in the forward portion of the upper surface of said mat and a plurality of closely spaced resilient fingers protruding upwardly from the bottom of said recess and terminating at the same height to form a coinreceiving area in the forward portion of the upper surface of said mat, the improvement comprising: a sign holder formed above the rear portion of said upper surface of said mat adjacent to said coin-receiving area, said sign holder comprising: an inclined display-supporting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the surface of said mat; slot means formed around four edges of said surface to receive a sign therein; a normally closed slit extending through said mat near the bottom edge of said inclined surface and immediately in front of the slot along the bottom edge of said surface; said slit being shaped and dimensioned to be opened by deformation of said mat to receive a sheet of transparent material to be seated in said slot surrounding said inclined surface to protect said sign positioned between said sheet and said surface; and a plurality of suction cup recesses formed in the bottom of said mat under said inclined surface of said sign holder.

10. An advertising device comprising: a coin mat and display sign holder formed of resilient deformable material; said holder including a sheet supporting surface and slot means around the edge of said surface to securely receive a sheet; and slit means tapering from the bottom of said mat to said surface to facilitate slidable insertion of a sheet in said holder by deformation of said mat in the area of said slit and snap-seating of said sheet in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,977 Johnson et a1 Sept. 16, 1924 1,561,991 Michalove Nov. 17, 1925 1,681,375 Shook Aug. 21, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,,984 923 May 23 1961 Robert Lo Mitchell It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4 line 22 for "deformably" read deformable o Signed and sealed this 24th day of October 1961,

SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOM M-DC 

